An Introduction to Amateur Satellites Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach May 5, 2000 An Introduction to Amateur Satellites Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach May 5, 2000 AMSAT Kostas Kitsios, KF6ECO Special Projects Chairman AMSAT- North America ®

AMSAT Presentation Outline An Overview of the Amateur Satellite Program What is an Amateur Radio Satellite? Satellite Tracking Sources of Information

AMSAT Building Satellites ‘on the Cheap’ AMSAT depends primarily on volunteers Only one full time employee (office manager) KISS Approach to satellite design - ’home brew’ Parts donations from corporate sources Systems built in garages/basements Develop university relationships (Weber State)

AMSAT International Scope Affiliate organizations in other countries Cooperation on individual projects An organization defines basic spacecraft and interface requirements Teams are formed from international ‘pools’ for various systems/subsystems

AMSAT International Cooperation Phase 3-D has components from 13 countries RussiaPropellant Tanks Japan SCOPE Cameras UK2m Xmtr/Aux. Batteries Finland10 GHz Xmtr Czech RepublicReceivers USASpace Frame/GPS/RUDAK Germany70 cm Xmtr/LEILA/Project Mgr. CanadaRadiation Testing Belgium146/435/2400 MHz Rcvr HungaryBattery Charger Regulators Slovenia21 MHz/5.7 GHz Rcvr France1.2 GHz Ant./Test Support-SBS New ZealandMachine Parts

AMSAT P3D SPACECRAFT ESA Provided 1194V Adaptor OSCAR 13 Average Man Microsat P3D SBS Launch Structure

AMSAT Launch Opportunities Most Satellites Ride into Orbit as an Extra Passenger on a Government/Commercial Agency’s Booster AMSAT has Developed Innovative Designs to make available ‘unusable’ space in launch vehicles Example: 1990 launch of Microsats on Ariane IV AMSAT will Trade Knowledge, Skill, and Manufacturing Capacity for a Reduction/Waiver of Launch Costs Example: SBS for P3-D on Ariane V

AMSAT Launch Opportunities Take Advantage of Test Launches w/Inherent Uncertainties Example: Ariane III and Ariane V Launch Insurance NOT Normally Purchased Cover Risk by duplicating components, such as Spaceframes

AMSAT OSCAR Program Phases Phase I: Low Earth Orbit, short lifetime, primarily beacon-oriented satellites OSCARS I-III, Russian Iskra 1-2 Phase II: Higher Orbits than Phase I (LEO), much longer lifetimes Analog: OSCARS 6-8, Digital: UO-9,11 Phase III: Highly elliptical Molniya-type orbits offering higher access time, power and more diverse communication transponders OSCARS 10, 13, and Phase 3-D

AMSAT OSCAR Satellite Summary SatelliteLaunchService Life OSCAR-I12 DEC 6122 Days OSCAR-II 2 JUN 6219 Days OSCAR-III 9 MAR 6518 Days for Transponder OSCAR-IV21 DEC 6585 Days OSCAR-523 JAN 7052 Days OSCAR-615 OCT Years OSCAR-715 NOV Years OSCAR-85 MAR Years UO-96 OCT 818 Years AO-1016 JUN 83In Service UO-112 MAR 84In Service

AMSAT OSCAR Satellite Summary SatelliteLaunchService Life FO-1212 AUG 865 NOV 89 AO-1315 JUN 885 DEC 96 UO-1422 JAN 90In Service UO-1522 JAN 9023 JAN 90 AO-1622 JAN 90In Service DO-1722 JAN 90March 1998 WO-1822 JAN 90March 1998 LU-1922 JAN 90Semi-Operational FO-20 7 FEB 90In Service AO-21/RS-1429 JAN Years UO-2217 JUL 91In Service KO-2310 AUG 92Semi-Operational

AMSAT OSCAR Satellite Summary SatelliteLaunchService Life KO-2526 SEP 93In Service IO-2626 SEP 93Semi-Operational AO-2726 SEP 93In Service PO-2826 SEP 93Commercial Service FO-2917 AUG 96In Service MO-30 5 SEP 96 Unable to activate TO-3110 JUL 98In Service GO-3210 JUL 98Undergoing Checkout SO-3324 OCT 98Unable to activate PO-3430 OCT 98Undergoing Checkout SO-3523 FEB 99Limited Service UO-3621 APR 99Limited Service

AMSAT RS Satellite Summary SatelliteLaunchService Life Iskra-219 AUG 829 JUL 82 Iskra-318 NOV 8216 DEC 82 RS-9Flight Cancelled RS-10/1123 JUN 87May 97 RS-12/135 FEB 91In Service RS-14/AO-2129 JAN 91JUN 94 RS-1526 DEC 94In Service RS-16 4 MAR 9725 OCT 99 RS-17 3 NOV 9730 DEC 97 (France) RS-1810 NOV 9811 DEC 98 (France)

AMSAT What is a Satellite? Like a Repeater Retransmits what it “hears” Has Optimized Receivers, Transmitters and Antennas Great Location! Enables Small Stations to Communicate Over Greater Distances

AMSAT What is a Satellite? Unlike a Repeater Has a Moving Footprint! –Location Changes/Availability Varies –Frequency Alteration due to Doppler Shift Full Duplex –Uplink and Downlink on Different Bands Simultaneously Multi-mode (CW/SSB/Digital) “World Wide” Coverage

AMSAT Satellites Utilize “Transponders” Receives a SEGMENT of One Band Retransmits EVERYTHING It Hears on Another Band Inverting Transponders – Lowest Incoming Frequency is Retransmitted Over the Highest Outgoing Frequency –Inverts Signal (LSB to USB)

AMSAT Satellite Systems Attitude Control (RCS, Torquing Coils) Central Computer (IHU) Communications (Command Rcvr/Beacons/Ant) Energy Supply (Batteries/Solar Panels/BCR) Engineering Telemetry (Electronic Sensors/Encoders) Environment Control (Mechanical Design, Heat Pipes) Guidance and Control (Sun/Earth Sensors) Mission-Unique Equipment (Transponders/GPS/CCD) Propulsion (Kick Motor/Arc Jet) Structure Most of the Satellite Development Effort Does Not Involve Amateur Radio

AMSAT Satellite Categories EASY Birds RS Satellites: RS-12/13, RS-15 (Russia) Manned Satellites (MIR/SAREX/ISS) Dual Use: FO-29 (Japan), AO-27 (FM), SO-35(FM) Digital Satellites Primarily “Store and Forward” Bulletin Boards Other Payloads (Cameras, Sensors, GPS) PSK Mode (AO-16, WO-18, LU-19) 9600 DFM (UO-22, KO-23, KO-25) 1200 AFSK (UO-11, DO-17 Downlink Only) 38k4 and 78k6 DFM (TO-31, UO-36) DX Satellites AO-10 Phase-3D

Old Satellite Modes Mode A 2 m Up10 m Down Mode K 15 m Up10 m Down Mode KA 15+2 m Up10 m Down Mode T 15 m Up2 m Down Mode KT 15 m Up2+10 m Down Mode B70 cm Up2 m Down Mode J2 m Up70 cm Down Mode JL23 cm Up2 m+70cm Down Mode L23 cm Up70 cm Down Mode S70 cm Up13 cm Down

New Satellite Modes 15 m 21 MHzMode H 10 m 29 MHzMode T 2 m145 MHzMode V 70 cm435 MHzMode U 23 cm 1.2 GHzMode L 13 cm 2.4 GHzMode S 6 cm 5.7 GHzMode C 3 cm10.5 GHzMode X 1.5 cm24.0 GHzMode K Old KA is new H,V/T Old J is new V/U

LEILA RUDAK & Telemetry Beacons P3D MATRIX PLAN Transponder- IF-MATRIX (10.7MHz, -15dBm) DOWNLINK UPLINK Comman d Receiver RUDAK Receiver LEILA (#2) (#1)

Satellite Tracking Satellites are Moving Transponders Need to Predict When the Satellite Will be in View of Your Station Antenna Pointing/Doppler Correction Mutual Pass with Other Stations

Orbital Parameters Eccentricity-How Circular the Orbit? Apogee: Point Farthest to Earth Perigee: Point Closest to Earth Inclination Relative to the Equator Keplerian Elements “Describe” the Orbit

Low Earth Orbit vs. Molniya Elliptical Orbit ApogeePerigee

Keplerian Data “Keps” are the Variables Which Describe a Satellite’s Orbit Keps are Developed by NORAD/NASA – AMSAT Provides Reformatted Data Keps are Distributed Worldwide – Packet Bulletin Boards – BBS (DRIG, NASA, AMSAT BBS’s) – Web Sites ( – ARRL bulletins – Automatic receipt from – Publications (AMSAT Journal, OSR)

Keplerian Data Satellite: AO-10 Catalog number: Epoch time: Element set: 573 Inclination: deg RA of node: deg Eccentricity: Arg of perigee: deg Mean anomaly: deg Mean motion: rev/day Decay rate: 2.18e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: Checksum: 311 Satellite: AO-27 Catalog number: Epoch time: Element set: 726 Inclination: deg RA of node: deg Eccentricity: Arg of perigee: deg Mean anomaly: deg Mean motion: rev/day Decay rate: 1.48e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: Checksum: 325 AO U 83058B

Tracking Software A Tracking Program Can Utilize Keplerian Data to Compute the Position and Velocity of a Satellite for Any Given Time –Real Time Tracking to Determine the Satellite’s Current Position Antenna aiming for azimuth and elevation Doppler Shift Corrections Based Upon Relative Velocity of the Satellite to the Observer –Future Predictions of When a Ground Station will be in View of a Satellite

Tracking Devices Various Self-Contained ‘Black Boxes’ Provide Autonomous Tracking –Trakbox from TAPR –Sat Trak IV from Kiron (No Longer Produced) These Devices Operate Independently of a PC – Controls Rotor Azimuth/Elevation – Adjusts Radio for Doppler Shift Kansas City Tracker (Available from AMSAT) – A PC Card Interface – Works with Satellite Tracking Programs – Controls Rotor Az/El – Adjusts Radios for Doppler

Sources of Information Books Periodicals Internet Sites BBS Sites AMSAT Area Coordinators

General Information Books AMSAT How to Use Amateur Radio Satellites AMSAT Working the Easy Sats ARRL Handbook ARRL Radio Amateur’s Satellite Handbook ARRL Satellite Anthology

Books for Specific Satellite Types Analog Satellites Operating Guide AMSAT-NA Digital Satellite Guide (Includes WISP Install/Setup Instructions) P3G to P3D Decoding Telemetry from Amateur Satellites AMSAT Mode S: The Book

Periodicals AMSAT Journal (Published Bimonthly/distributed to membership) OSCAR Satellite Report (Harlan Technologies published bi-weekly) Magazines with Satellite Columns: – QST – CQ Magazine – 73 Magazine – World Radio

Resources from AMSAT AMSAT News Services (ANS) KEPS (Keplerian Data) AMSAT-BB SAREX is Sent to Your Internet Address – Subscribe by Sending Message to:

World Wide Web Resources http: // http: // http: // http: //

BBS Sites 18 Telephone Sites Nationwide Satellite Information Available on AOL/CIS Coverage of Weather, non-AMSAT Satellite Activities May Require Pre-registration to Gain Access List of Sites Available from AMSAT

AMSAT Field Organization Area Coordinators: AMSAT’s Ambassadors 150+ Volunteers in USA and Canada 100% Use Have Knowledge/Get Answers Make Local Presentations/Hamfest Presence Area Coordinator List Available

How Do I Get Help? Local Satellite Operators AMSAT Nets (HF and VHF)-Listing Available (AMSAT-BB) Visit the AMSAT Booth at Hamfests & Conventions Contact an AMSAT Area Coordinator Request a Club Satellite Presentation Consider Joining AMSAT/ Receive the Journal

AMSAT For More Information AMSAT-North America P.O. Box 27 Washington, DC phone: (301) AMSAT Area Coordinator Duane Naugle, KO6BT 4111 Nemaha Dr. San Diego, CA phone: (858)